Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

Red Chokeberry is a common upright, open shrub with white flower clusters in spring and red fruits in fall and winter.

Pender Co., NC 4/19/08.

Durham, NC 4/5/09.

Durham, NC 4/5/08.

Red Chokeberry differs from Black Chokeberry (A. melanocarpa), which grows only in the Mountains, in having pubescence on the branches of inflorescence and on the undersides of the leaves (Black Chokeberry is glabrous) as well as fruit color (red vs. black).

Durham, NC 4/1/07.

Red Chokeberry differs from the rarer Purple Chokeberry (A. prunifolia) in the amount of pubescence on the underside of the leaves (densely pubescent for Red, sparsely for Purple), as well as fruit color (red vs. purple).

Durham, NC 4/11/05.

Aronia taxonomy is confusing -- the genus Aronia is sometimes lumped in with Sorbus, Pyrus, or even Photinia.

Durham, NC 4/11/05.

Scotland Co., NC 4/20/05.

Ripening fruits.

Durham Co., NC 7/4/03.

The bright red fruits last throughout the winter.

Durham, NC 4/5/08.

The dark hairs on the upper surface of the leaf midrib make it easy to distinguish Aronia from other local shrubs.